Ron Reardon

On July 16, 2006 at the NAPP® Annual Meeting we will elect a new Board of Directors, as well as a new Vice President and Treasurer.  I would like to thank the outgoing Directors and Officers for their sterling efforts in serving the needs of the NAPP membership.  The outgoing Directors are listed in the adjacent column.  Vice President Rich Farr and Treasurer Donna Fugit are resigning due to job conflicts and responsibilities.  Each of these individuals has made significant contributions to the NAPP during their term, and their efforts will be missed.

We have a slate of highly talented candidates for the new leadership team.  My thanks to the following Director nominees for offering their time and talents: Sharon Adams, Stan Antolin, Jim Bolcsak, David Gange, Kevin Grierson, David Grossman, Tom Hamill, Louis Hoffman, Linda Judge, and Sana Pratt.  Their bios show that these individuals bring a wealth of experience and credentials with them. 

Sean Brennan has agreed to run for Vice President and Jerry Miller has agreed to run for Treasurer.  Both of these individuals are longtime NAPP members and are well respected.

Each of the above candidates will be serving on at least one committee (Annual Meeting, Audit, External Relations/Government Affairs, Newsletter, Membership/Internet, Regional Chapters, and Planning).  NAPP is fortunate to have such a rich talent pool that is willing to serve the needs of the membership.  To volunteer to work on one of these committees, please contact me at president@napp.org.

It takes a dedicated team to keep an organization such as NAPP vibrant and growing.  The above candidates provide a balance between those who are well-grounded in the origins of NAPP, as well as those who joined as NAPP matured into the organization it is today.  The different perspectives of our candidates are united by a shared vision of NAPP’s future and a willingness to shoulder the responsibilities of making that vision a reality.

Our new team members join at a time when NAPP is in excellent financial health, with a solid membership base and with strong programs and benefits.  I look forward to meeting many of you at our annual meeting in Alexandria, Virginia.

Biotechnology/Chemical/Pharmaceutical Customer Partnership Meeting, June 13, 2006

By Luca D’Ottone

The most recent USPTO Biotechnology/Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Customer Partnership meeting was held on June 13, 2006 in the Madison Building, Alexandria, Virginia. Topics presented at this meeting included the Patent Prosecution Highway program, an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Markush claims, the SCORE system for data storage, and stem cell-related inventions. Click here to access a report on the meeting.

July 12, 2006 - Docketing

The next NAPP® teleconference, to be presented by Dick Woodbridge of Synnestvedt Lechner & Woodbridge LLP on July 12, 2006 at 8:00-9:00 pm. Eastern time, will address  selection of a docketing system.  This teleconference qualifies for one (1) NAPP® Certification credit.  For further details and registration for this event, click here.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and may not necessarily be supported by the NAPP, its members, officers, or directors.

Accused Dome Equivalent to Recited "Plate" After Amendment Which Was Tangential to Contested Element

By Bill Heinze

In a rare decision involving the doctrine of equivalents for an amended claim term, the Federal Circuit in Primos, Inc. v. Hunter's Specialties, Inc., et al. (June 14, 2006; 05-1001,-1376) agreed with the district court that prosecution history estoppel did not preclude the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the term "plate" in claim 2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,415,578 for a "Game Call Apparatus."
Click here to access the article.

The Disclosure® welcomes the submission of articles on topics related to US and foreign patent practice.  To submit  an article to The Disclosure®, please send it as an e-mail attachment to editor@napp.org.
 

The Disclosure® is a trademark of the National Association of Patent Practitioners.

The Disclosure® is published monthly and is made available to NAPP members and the general public.

Editor:  David Robeson

©2006 National Association of Patent Practitioners.  All rights reserved.

NAPP Officers:

President - G. Ron Reardon

Vice President - Rich Farr

Treasurer - Donna Fugit

Secretary - Michelle Stempien

NAPP Directors:

Joy Bryant

Scott Chambers

Kevin Grierson

Gary Smith

Kirk Wilson

*******

Newsletter Assistant Needed

The NAPP is looking for a volunteer to assist David Robeson in his capacity as Editor of The Disclosure®.  Volunteering for this type of role can be a very rewarding investment of your time.  If you have experience and/or a gift in this area please contact me at president@napp.org. 

Thanks.

Ron Reardon, President

Celebrate NAPP'S 10th Anniversary  - Alexandria, Virginia July 15-18, 2006

The 2006 NAPP® Annual Meeting will be held in Old Town Alexandria, adjacent to the US Patent and Trademark Office. 

Registration is now available for the 2006 annual meeting.  Space is limited to 150 attendees for the meeting and 40 attendees for the short course.

A special hands-on EFS-Web program will be available to 16 attendees after the meeting concludes on July 18.  To register for this training session, contact us online, or call 800-216-9588.

The New Jersey Regional Chapter needs volunteers to help organize NAPP regional meetings in the New Jersey area.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.